As emission regulations grow stricter and the price of diesel fuel continues to rise, Cargotec is the first to launch a hydraulic hybrid drive terminal tractor offering customers improved performance, significant savings in fuel costs and even greater reductions in nitrous oxide and particulate matter emissions. Paired with the Kalmar Ottawa 4x2 off-highway terminal tractor, the hydraulic hybrid system will initially be available to customers operating in North America.
The new machine is the result of Cargotec's partnership with Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics) and its subsidiary Kinetics Drive Solutions Inc, a leader in the research and development of hybrid technology. The Kalmar hydraulic hybrid drive terminal tractor is equipped with a parallel system that simultaneously transmits power from two distinct sources - the primary diesel engine and the secondary hydraulic motor. The coordination of these power sources maximises fuel economy and satisfies performance constraints.
Mikko Vuojolainen, Vice President, Terminal Tractors, says many operational challenges for hybrid systems in terminal tractors had to be addressed before introducing one to the market.
"The normal application of a terminal tractor involves many stops and starts where frequent idling and reverse motion is common. This inconsistent use of power makes it difficult to consistently capture regenerative energy.
After carrying out extensive testing on a variety of alternatives, it was clear that ST Kinetics' Hy-POWER hydraulic hybrid drive system combined with clean diesel engine technology offered the most benefits to the customer and environment. In this application, energy is only transferred twice as opposed to four times with an electric hybrid." |
